Physical Therapy: Who Can Benefit, & How Can it Help?

When it comes to physical therapy, also referred to as PT, skilled professionals assess and treat physical dysfunction caused by injury or disability or any other health problem.

According to the recent rule of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Physiotherapists are recognized as licensed and trained in movement (Range of motion specialists). They are able to treat and diagnose various injuries or disabilities as well as medical conditions.

Their therapeutic interventions are entirely based on improving their quality of life by increasing their independence level. They also aim to avoid further injuries or disabilities.

Certified Physical therapists take care of a wide range of healthcare settings such as out-patient efficacy, rehab care best practices, clinical settings in a rehab center, and at-home clinical practices in a hospital or private practices in association with government or body.

Expectations from physiotherapists

Physical therapists assist in taking charge of patients at every stage of healing, starting from diagnosis through preventive and restorative stages of recovery. It is considered the stand-alone treatment option integrated with other therapeutic interventions.

Physical therapists receive training that allows them to:

• Conduct the physical exam and evaluate the person’s flexibility, movement muscles, and joint motion and performance, including determining the person’s health and medical history
• Provide a diagnostic along with a prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment plan with long- and short-term objectives
• Perform physical therapy treatments and also intervention
• offer self-management suggestions, such as exercises one can perform at home

Other than physical manipulation, treatment of physical therapy is given below:

• Iontophoresis It uses electrical energy to deliver specific drugs, like topical steroids. It may reduce the severity of inflammation.
• Electrostimulation (e-stim): t neuromuscular electrical stimulation functions to stimulate the motor units of muscles to enhance muscular engagement.
• Moisture, heat, warm or cold therapy: These can provide advantages for a variety of ailments.
• Therapy with light: The procedure involves the application of specific lasers and lights to treat specific medical conditions.

The benefits of physiotherapy in rehabilitation care:

Reducing or eliminating discomfort. Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques like the mobilization of soft tissues and joints or treatments like tapping, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation can ease discomfort and restore joint function, thereby reducing pain. Practicing regular physiotherapy exercises help patients to prevent the pain from getting severe.

Replace invasive treatment (Surgeries). If surgery is needed, there is a chance that you can benefit from pre-surgery therapy. If you’re entering the procedure healthier and more in shape and healthier, you’ll recover quicker following the process in many instances. Additionally, by avoiding surgeries, the costs of health care can be reduced.

Enhance your mobility. If you’re having difficulty standing, walking or moving, regardless of age, physical therapy may aid. Exercises for stretching and strengthening aid in restoring mobility. Physical therapists can fit people with canes, crutches, or any other assistive device or test the need for orthotic treatment. Physiotherapists design personalized healthcare programs tailored to patients’ needs and ailments and monitor performance after regular intervals.

Help patients develop stability & minimize the chance of falling. Once you’ve started exercise, you’ll be screened for the risk of falling. If therapists observe that patients have a high risk of falling, they offer exercises considering all safety measures. Therapists will also provide exercises that improve coordination as well as assistive devices to aid in safe walking. Suppose balance issues are caused by a dysfunction with the vestibular system. In that case, Physical therapists are able to perform specific exercises that will quickly bring back proper vestibular function and help reduce or eliminate vertigo or dizziness symptoms.

Physical therapists can assist and guide patients in the proper care for feet to avoid further issues.

Enhance mobility. Physical therapy could assist if you’re having difficulties standing, walking, or moving, no matter how old—exercises for stretching and strengthening aid in restoring mobility. When physiotherapists create a personalized program for patients, they consider occupation, lifestyle, medications, and other diseases and conditions they have. They may also ask for lifestyle modification to maximize physiotherapy results.

Physiotherapy can replace surgery. Physiotherapy is the therapeutic intervention to stimulate the healing procedure. In some cases, doctors prescribe surgery, but it can be replaced through a proper form of physiotherapy for a particular period. Even physiotherapy is important after surgery to stimulate the healing process if you’re going into the procedure stronger and more in shape and healthier. You’ll recover quicker following the procedure in many instances. Additionally, by avoiding surgery, costs for health care can be reduced.

Control Women’s Health and other issues. Women face specific health issues, including post-partum and pregnancy treatment. Physiotherapists can resolve complications associated with women’s health, like fibromyalgia, urinary health, bowel incontinence, lymphedema, and urinary leakage.

Hand therapy exercises are an integrated part of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists consider these exercises in hand and upper extremity rehab care to increase grip strength, finger range of motion, and adequate independence.